mouldy

/ˈmoʊldi/

//ˈmoʊldi// adj

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"mouldy" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“mouldy” is uncommon English (frequency #57,572 among 36,575 “M” headwords), classed as an adjective. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#57,572
frequency rank, English
36,575
“M” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Covered with mould.

Key facts for mouldy
PropertyValue
Headwordmouldy
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈmoʊldi/
Letters6
Frequency rank#57,572
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “mouldy” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). mouldy lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

mouldy is uncommon English at frequency #57,572 among 36,575 “M” headwords, classed as anadjective, transcribed /ˈmoʊldi/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 4 senses are on record.

mouldy doesn't appear in our generated misspelling index, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable English rules. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: From mould + -y. The correct English form is mouldy, spelled M-O-U-L-D-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    Covered with mould.
  2. 2
    Showing signs of neglect; disused.
  3. 3
    Worthless; lousy; rotten.
  4. 4
    Gray-headed, whether from age or hair powder.

Etymology

From mould + -y.

This word in other languages

mohoso(Español)moisi(Français)schimmlig(Deutsch)mofado(Português)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "mouldy"?
"mouldy" is spelled M-O-U-L-D-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈmoʊldi/.
What does "mouldy" mean?
As an adjective, "mouldy" means: Covered with mould.
How do you pronounce "mouldy"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "mouldy" is /ˈmoʊldi/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "mouldy"?
From mould + -y. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “mouldy”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is M-O-U-L-D-Y - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈmoʊldi/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Other uncommon English words near this rank

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list